FTC finds Snapchat guilty of deception

DDN CorrespondentPosted on 09 May, 2014 at 07:03:AM IST

Snapchat on Thursday settled the charges of spying on its users and not making the app completely secure for their use, with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) which had charged Snapchat with misleading its customers.

Snapchat had earlier assured its users that the private photos that are sent using the app will be automatically deleted also the self-destructor timer in the app allows users to go around the auto-destruct through saving the image of what is on screen.

The settlement with FTC allows independent privacy auditors to keep an eye on Snapchat for the next 20 years.

Snapchat had built its USP on the premise that the messages of the users are safe with the app but the app was doing the exact opposite.

Snapchat was collecting user's information and despite promises of not doing so was tracking its customers. Snapchat had also uploaded the entire contact lists from iPhones without the user's awareness.

The start-up app-makers dubious activities came to the forefront after hackers stole the contact information of 4.6 million Snapchat users and posted the information online.

Snapchat admitted to its mistakes and updated the privacy policy, app description and notifications to users.